The Fire Guardians

Chapter 9

Chapter 9:    

                “Krista!”

                I turned around and saw Everett’s horrified face.

                People were trying to get up on the stage. They were getting out of control. Fast. Soldiers were trying to contain them, but no one was listening.

                Boom.

                The gunshot went off, and people began to scream. A dead body lay in front of a soldier. Their blood spilled out on the cobblestone. Everett took my spot.

                “People!” He yelled. No one was listening. Another gun was shot, but this time it was in the air.

                “Listen to him! He is your ruler!” A soldier yelled. Everyone gave their attention to Everett.

                “Please continue with your usual work. If we do not take this step now, when will we? Return to your homes and jobs and families. The soldiers will monitor the streets, and end any crimes at once. Thank you for your time. You may return to your homes in an orderly-,” the people began to exit the area in fear of being shot like their fellow citizen.

                “-manner,” Everett finished quietly.

                “What were you thinking?” Everett asked, approaching me.

                “I was giving my honest opinion,” I said, “I’m ruler. I can make whatever choices I think are fit.”

                “We told you to calm and reassure them. Instead you threw them into frenzy. Somebody died today, Krista. If you don’t work with us to get them under control, there will be a lot more dead bodies.”

                “Under control? I saw how under control Brent was the moment I came here.”

                “Why can’t you do what you’re told? Just because you’re ruler doesn’t mean you can come here and change everything. We’ve been here longer and we know what’s right. You don’t.”

                “Who is to judge who knows what’s right? I’ll do what I want, and you and the rest of those government idiots can do what they want. Ha, and you told me you care about these people. And I actually believed you! You’re just as bad as the rest.” I stormed off the stage and Everett was following me.

                “I am not as bad as them! You don’t understand! Did you see what you did today?” I was not going to be Brent’s puppet to manipulate anyway they want. If they don’t like what I want to do, then they can find a new guardian.

                We walked back to Cinder in complete silence. When we got there, I went straight to my room. I went inside the bathroom and took off the dress. I replaced it with a baggy white t-shirt and pair of even baggier sweatpants. Both of which I found in my new closet. I flopped on the bed, and wanted to fall asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. That wasn’t the case. I kept tossing and turning, thousands of thoughts racing through my overactive mind.

                There was a knock on the door. I sighed, and rolled off the bed to go answer the door. A plump woman entered the room, followed by a thinner woman.

                “You must be Krista,” the plump woman said, smiling broadly, “I’m Barbara Willows. Your designer. Please call me Barb. This fine woman behind me is my assistant. Her name is Gemma Peterson.”